Overview
- Parliament elected opposition leader Matthew Wale in a 26–22 secret ballot on Friday, defeating government candidate Peter Shanel Agovaka, the governor general announced.
- After the vote, Wale said "change is coming" and urged citizens to hold his government to account as many households face high fuel costs and poor services in rural areas.
- The leadership switch followed last week’s no-confidence removal of Jeremiah Manele after about a dozen ministers resigned from his government in March.
- China’s foreign ministry congratulated Wale and offered to deepen cooperation, while Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the result and pledged to strengthen economic, development and security ties.
- Wale previously criticized the 2022 security pact with China, yet experts expect him to seek a careful balance that could be tested by coalition partners with close links to Beijing.